Question : National Zoo Policy

(a) whether the Government has recently drafted the National Zoo Policy in the Country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the funds allocated/released by the Government to the zoos across the country including Uttar Pradesh zoos;
(c) whether the Government has taken decision to cancel the licences to run zoo in various cities of the country including zoo in Uttar Pradesh;
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the other corrective steps being taken by the Government for the betterment of zoos in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) The Central Government notified the National Zoo Policy, 1998 on 28th October 1998.

(b) Establishment and operation of zoos is the responsibility of respective zoo operators. The Central Zoo Authority provides financial assistance to zoos as per the Guidelines for prioritizing grant of financial assistance to zoos (2012). The details of funds released by the Central Zoo Authority to zoos in the country, including zoos in Uttar Pradesh, are as under:

Year Funds released (Rupees in lakhs)
Zoos of Uttar Pradesh Zoos of the country
2019-2020 Rs. 34.34 lakhs Rs.499.83 lakhs
2020-2021 Rs.24.40 lakhs Rs. 598.13 lakhs
2021-2022 Rs.15.18 lakhs Rs.762.00 lakhs

(c) and (d) The Central Zoo Authority stipulates conditions for recognition/renewal of zoos and improvement of the operating conditions in the respective zoos. The recognition granted to a zoo may be cancelled by the Central Zoo Authority as per the provisions of section 38 H of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 if the zoo fails to comply with the norms specified in the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009.

Details of zoos whose recognition was cancelled by the Central Zoo Authority during the period 2019-20 to 2021-22 are given below:

S.No. Year State Name of the Zoo
1

2021-2022
Karnataka Tungabhadra Mini Zoo, Hosapete
2 Maharashtra Mahatma Gandhi Zoo, Solapur
3 Maharashtra Snake Park, Dholgarwadi
4 Tamil Nadu VOC Park Zoo, Coimbatore
5 Telangana Deer Park-Kesoram Cement, Basanthnagar

S.No. Year State Name of the Zoo
1

2020-21 Gujarat Great Golden Circus
2 Karnataka Children’s Park cum Mini Zoo, Bellari
3 Odisha Municipal Corporation Deer Park, Cuttack
4 Andhra Pradesh GVK Deer Park, Jugurupadu

S.No. Year State Name of the Zoo
1 2019-20 Nil Nil


(e) The other corrective measures taken up by the Central Zoo Authority from time to time for betterment of zoos include:

i. Providing technical assistance for preparation of Master Plans for long-term development of zoos
ii. Capacity building programmes for zoo personnel
iii. Issuance of guidelines on various aspects of zoo management.
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